diff --git a/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/frr/bgpd/templates/internal/instance.conf.j2 b/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/frr/bgpd/templates/internal/instance.conf.j2
index e0e23b7f60c8..59781d024ab0 100644
--- a/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/frr/bgpd/templates/internal/instance.conf.j2
+++ b/dockers/docker-fpm-frr/frr/bgpd/templates/internal/instance.conf.j2
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   neighbor {{ neighbor_addr }} remote-as {{ bgp_session['asn'] }}
   neighbor {{ neighbor_addr }} description {{ bgp_session['name'] }}
   neighbor {{ neighbor_addr }} timers 3 10
+  neighbor {{ neighbor_addr }} timers connect 10
 !
 {% if neighbor_addr | ipv4 %}
   address-family ipv4
diff --git a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v4.conf b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v4.conf
index fc7b82a64acc..df8db8311f35 100644
--- a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v4.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v4.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   neighbor 10.10.10.10 remote-as 555
   neighbor 10.10.10.10 description remote_peer
   neighbor 10.10.10.10 timers 3 10
+  neighbor 10.10.10.10 timers connect 10
   address-family ipv4
     neighbor 10.10.10.10 peer-group INTERNAL_PEER_V4
     neighbor 10.10.10.10 route-map FROM_BGP_INTERNAL_PEER_V4 in
diff --git a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v6.conf b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v6.conf
index 74cececad969..a300edb0e512 100644
--- a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v6.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_back_v6.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   neighbor fc::10 remote-as 555
   neighbor fc::10 description remote_peer
   neighbor fc::10 timers 3 10
+  neighbor fc::10 timers connect 10
   address-family ipv6
     neighbor fc::10 peer-group INTERNAL_PEER_V6
     neighbor fc::10 route-map FROM_BGP_INTERNAL_PEER_V6 in
diff --git a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v4.conf b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v4.conf
index 95eb985b1546..f848ebd457d4 100644
--- a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v4.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v4.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   neighbor 10.10.10.10 remote-as 555
   neighbor 10.10.10.10 description remote_peer
   neighbor 10.10.10.10 timers 3 10
+  neighbor 10.10.10.10 timers connect 10
   address-family ipv4
     neighbor 10.10.10.10 peer-group INTERNAL_PEER_V4
     neighbor 10.10.10.10 next-hop-self force
diff --git a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v6.conf b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v6.conf
index a4a4648e4855..09c021b9195b 100644
--- a/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v6.conf
+++ b/src/sonic-bgpcfgd/tests/data/internal/instance.conf/result_front_v6.conf
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   neighbor fc::10 remote-as 555
   neighbor fc::10 description remote_peer
   neighbor fc::10 timers 3 10
+  neighbor fc::10 timers connect 10
   address-family ipv6
     neighbor fc::10 peer-group INTERNAL_PEER_V6
     neighbor fc::10 next-hop-self force